The Great Misdreavus Hunt

I lose track of time. Battling with Cheryl by my side is so much fun. What a pity that we will eventually have to go our separate ways. As a bonus, at least Apsu finally learned tackle. I feel like investing attention in him will pay off. As it is, he is still the weak link here. So is Kazza, but I might just replace him with Nanabozho once I get out of this forest.

Two trainers ambush us. Fortunately, they both seem to ignore my pokemon and focus on Cheryl's Chansey, and she takes hits like nothing else I've ever seen. I must try to catch a Chansey myself. The enemy Wurmple and Pachirisu get several hits in and eventually Chansey actually does go down, but it bought me time to switch to Hanuman, who dominates both opponents single-handedly. Since Chansey has fainted, perhaps I should take Cheryl back to the Poke Center for healing? How does this work? Well, I can switch Kazza out for Nanabozho, at least.

Or not. Kazza evolves into Kadabra and learns confusion, so now he can actually attack. And Cheryl's healing resources are just as capable of reviving Chansey as they have been when it comes to healing my team. How does this girl do it? We continue through the forest. I meet a new pokemon. It's then that I realize: it's nighttime now. It makes sense that some pokemon would be nocturnal. This one looks like a floating shadow fireball thing with pink edges and a face.I intend to capture this Misdreavus if possible. Kazza refuses to obey me for the first time ever. I suppose he has grown too strong for the mystical power of my badge to tame him. Normal attacks do not seem to hurt this Misdreavus. I weaken her with ember and throw my dusk ball, but she breaks free. Annoying, and I don't want to use another ember because it might make her faint and for whatever reason, I cannot capture fainted pokemon. After exhausting nearly all of my supply of regular poke balls, I have Hanuman ember one more time and throw the great ball. That also fails. I throw my last poke ball. It almost works, but she breaks free again. Dejected, I order Hanuman to finish the wraith with ember.

I almost continue, but I am just too angry about not catching that shadow thing. I want a Misdreavus and I will have a Misdreavus! I return to town and buy 15 poke balls for the hunt. I am interrupted on my way back to the forest by a gastropod called Shellos, but I lose the opportunity to catch it when Kazza disobeys my orders and teleports. I should do something about that. I reenter the forest and meet up with Cheryl again. The hunt has begun.

First, we find a pair of Budews. Not what I am looking for, so they get to taste fire. Next it's another Budew and a Wurmple. An odd couple, I should think. Wurmple looks like it would be interested in eating Budew, but perhaps they are uniting against me for some reason. Unfortunate for them, as the only fruit of their labor is them being lit on fire—eventually. Hanuman is not as quick about this as I might like because of stun spore and water sport by the Budew. I would be mad, but I did just light the offender on fire, which seems more than fair. Something good did happen though: Hanuman learned flame wheel. I promptly test this move out on the next pair to bother me, a Buneary and a Wurmple. Flame wheel seems better than ember. I am interrupted again by Buneary, this time with Budew. It isn't that I don't appreciate the chance to strengthen my pokemon, but I am looking for something here, so move aside. They ignore me, of course, so Sekhmet punishes them for that with much biting. Another duo just like the previous one attacks us. This is getting old. Time for Articuno. Perhaps if the wild pokemon see the majesty that is Articuno, they will stand aside and call for a Misdreavus to approach me. More likely, they will mindlessly attack while Articuno stubbornly refuses to heed my directions. Oh look, that's exactly what happened.

Another Budew and Buneary. And then there they are. Twin Misdreavuses. I switch to Sekhmet for bite, reasoning that flame wheel might do too much damage. Bad move. Apparently dark-type moves really hurt Misdreavus. I cannot risk letting Kazza teleport out of this. Apsu cannot hurt Misdreavus at all. Articuno would destroy her with one ice beam once he got around to actually attacking. My only options are Hanuman and Ninhursag. I have Ninhursag use stun spore right away, remembering the lesson that a pokemon afflicted with a status condition is easier to catch. Then I try mega drain. Perfect. This should weaken Misdreavus nicely. I switch to Apsu so that he can take the hits from my quarry, as Ninhursag was taking a beating. And still, somehow this mysterious creature breaks out of each poke ball I throw. Am I cursed never to have my own Misdreavus? This cannot be. Each poke ball that breaks only makes me want one even more. I wonder if this is impossible, but finally, it works. I am elated. Horrible as that was, I am sure it will be worth the effort.